Early voting wraps with record statewide turnout

Early voting wrapped up in a record-setting way in Tennessee on Saturday.

Even before the day's voting totals were submitted from all 95 counties, data from the Tennessee secretary of state's office showed more than 550,000 people cast their ballots since polls first opened July 18.

The number surpassed any statewide total for an August election on record, according to the state data.

State primaries and county general elections are scheduled to be held Thursday.

Several counties in Middle Tennessee, including Davidson County, also set early voting records for an August election. In Nashville, more than 30,000 people cast their ballots since polls opened at the Howard Office Building two weeks ago.

Busy last day

Dozens of voters waited in line to cast their ballots at the Green Hills Library on Saturday afternoon.

In all, more than 4,700 people cast their ballots in the final day of early voting, said Joan Nixon of the Davidson County Election Commission.

Hours before the polls closed, Democrats and Republicans both said their schedules wouldn't allow them to vote on election day. Even waiting in line was worth making sure they could cast their ballots, they said.

"I didn't want to take the chance," said Rosemary Cathcart, an Oak Hill resident who voted in the Democratic primary.